OpenRent – which advertises itself saying: ‘OpenRent is the cheapest and best way to advertise your rental property on the UK’s major property websites. You’ll save over £1,415 per property and find a tenant in 5 days on average. You’ll get unbeatable coverage on Rightmove, Zoopla, and dozens more sites for just £29.’ shows a number of media links on its website leading to stories that they have been featured in. These include The BBC, Mirror, Telegraph, and The Sun.
The probably are not quite so keen on the story that appeared in The Sun website yesterday, though of course any publicity is good publicity. Or so they say.
Under a headline, ‘TIGHT SQUEEZE One-bed London flat is £700-a-month and the ‘bed’ is a SOFA crammed in tiny room – but there are SOME perks’ [their capitals, not ours], the article says that a studio to the north-west of the city [it’s in West Hampstead] is so small there’s no room for a bed, meaning the new tenant ‘will have to kip on the sofa’.
The story goes on: ‘But agents insist there are still plenty of good reasons to move in – with free washing among the perks.’
The Sun seems not entirely impressed and says: ‘…hilariously, agents OpenRent describe the miniature home as “medium-sized” in an optimistic ad.’
Judge for yourself on the Rightmove listing.
Comments (7)
I see it is off the market today. Maybe somebody snapped it up! More likely the rogue landlord removed it for fear of being caught. It will be rented out illegally at some point that’s for sure, maybe not for £700 but it will be rented .
Mind you as a previous correspondent said it beats B&B if you live out of town but work in town during the week, also rent could be offset against saved commuting costs. 20 working days for £700 month all in, is £35 night, plus you could always Air BnB it for weekend London breaks for the unsuspecting as an income booster!
Oh god… the listing states “DSS Income Accepted X” – well this is illegal now so there’s a claim right there.
I have serious concerns over the fire safety of the “property” and doubt it meets the requirements (no door closer, no discernable fire alarm, no ventilation (windows) hence the aircon).
This looks like some sort of illegal conversion to me (likely a converted basement as there appears to be no natural light).
Brent Council where this property is situated (NW3 Fichley Road) have been in the news for cracking down on rouge landlords so good luck to this chap… (and I really dont mean that, these sort of landlords are the reason the industry has a bad name).
Finally, a crackdown on rouge landlords!
Minimum living space! Someone hasn’t read up on the regulations …. its illegal.
At £41 a night for 4 weekday nights in London that would be ideal for someone, not on expenses, needing to work in London. It compares favourably with en-suite bed and breakfast prices. (back to the countryside or beaches at the weekend)
It’s real easy to get superior and sniffy about places like that but small as it is, that is a practical solution to a problem many people face.
What many people don’t realise somewhere like that makes home ownership possible. Rent that in the week while you buy what is effectively a 2nd home and the home you’ll retire to at a very much lower price than buying in London
Hi Robert- doesn’t meet minimum living standards, one very small opaque, fixed window, a microwave illegally close to the sink- and do remember you cant rent this by the day/night- minimum 6 month term at £700 per month. On your theory of a 2nd home I don’t know many that could afford that and a mortgage- and I don’t know how long anyone could last sleeping alone on a cheap sofa. I don’t feel this listing needed any defending this is horrendous and illegal and should not be applauded in any way, shape or form.
There are people here in Barnstaple (relations) who do just that. If you’re out at work from 8-8 having that as a home, treating it as a bedroom it doesn’t matter what size it is. it isn’t perfect but it is far superior to some of the guest house accommodation London offers.
If I had another London based contract I would happily rent that.
I’m not defending the listing but I am looking at if from the perspective of someone who bought their forever home early but faced the challenge of 3 or 4 nights away from home each week. Moving to London was never an option, the commute wasn’t practical, hotels expensive and unreliable availability, guest houses and bed and breakfasts given over to long term accommodation for overseas visitors and council waiting lists.
that isn’t a home but it is somewhere to sleep and that is all some people need